ADEL — The Perry girls cagers improved to 11-4 overall and 5-3 in the Raccoon River Conference with a 67-62 win over host ADM in overtime Friday.
Long-range shooting was a key for the Jayettes as the team splashed 12 shots from behind the 3-point arc. Senior Grace Marburger and freshman Molly Lutmer each landed five bombs, with Emma Olejniczak and Jo Diw both hitting one deep ball. In contrast, the Tigers (6-11, 4-6) make just four 3-pointers in the game.
Perry also finished with a decided edge at the foul line. While ADM sank four of only six attempts, Perry toed the line 20 times, connecting on 11 tries, a rate that almost cost the team a victory.
The Jayettes held three-point leads in both the first and second quarter, but entered the half facing a 36-34 deficit. The visitors grabbed a quick 39-38 lead early in the third period, but ADM rattled of 16 of the next 21 points to post a 54-44 lead, although Perry was able to trim the margin to 56-50 entering the final quarter.
Neither offense showed much flash in the last eight minutes of regulation, with ADM holding a 58-55 lead for more than four minutes. Perry tied the game at 60-all with two minutes to play, but neither squad was able to score again, forcing four minutes of additional action.
The Jayettes outscored the Tigers, 7-2, over the stretch to seize the win. Perry was a 51-42 winner of the first game between the rivals, held Dec. 16 in Perry.
Both teams relied heavily on their starters, with ADM using only two girls off the bench while Perry used one, Isabel Saemisch.
Marburger finished with a team-high 21 points for the Jayettes, with Lutmer adding 15, Diw 14 and Olejniczak 13, with four points from Grace Stewart completing the scoring list.
Abbie Hlas did not start, but entered in the first quarter and played most of the game for the hosts. Her 23 points were a game-high, with Sidney Bertman adding 19 points. Allie Cook had seven points and Delaney Bertman six, with Emma Jacobsen providing five points and Sydney Canney two.
Perry visits Boone tonight for a rescheduled girls varsity only game at 6 p.m. They will join the Bluejays in traveling to Winterset Tuesday before hosting Ballard Friday.
